Abre tú corazón y acéptame tal como soy

Park by my house!

The past month has been amazing, challenging, exhausting, and emotionally straining but, probably also one of the most rewarding and eye opening months of my life! But, first I'll back up to the beginning of June and our week with fifteen 17 year old high school boys. Every year Malvern all boys high school, in Villanova, PA sends a group for an immersion/service trip led and planned by the Augustinian Volunteers, the three of us! In our attempts to keep them as busy as possible we exhausted ourselves but also really enjoyed being able to see the city we have grown to love so much through new excited eyes, eyes with great desire to help and curious souls questioning and pushing our knowledge. They played lots of soccer, gave out lots of candy, soccer balls, clothes, and love. They hiked hills, went to the river, came and helped me out at school (made the girls week, maybe even month, they just couldn't get over how tall they were), bought pottery in La Encantada, went to the special needs school, visited the hospital, cleaned Centro Pastoral, and passed time talking to people in the plaza. But, in the end the only thing they really "did" was paint at the elderly home, it wasn't about doing, it was about being, being in communion with the people.  Learning about how the third world lives, their realities, their struggles, and their true happiness and finding the true wealth they have is in each other.  People here are so proud of what they have, who they are, and all they've made for themselves. In the end, we hope the boys went home and told their story, told people about Chulucanas, Peru and all it's beauty!

Ceramics man!

I know having them here to question things taught us a lot about Chulucanas, they refocused us on why we are here, and why we are so happy we still have five more months to leave our mark. The boys loved the most challenging place in Chulucanas, the orphanage, they just couldn't get enough of it, they went everyday because they wanted to go, they wanted to ask questions, dig deeper, and even try to adopt some of the kids. The orphange here is a home to 38 children under the age of 15 and is run by one nun and her assistant. They live off day to day donations, there are two kids to a bed, the roof leaks, and the sewer pipe is broken so it constantly reeks. The past couple of months we have tried our best to avoid going there just because it is hard to sit there. But, Malvern got me to go, got me to ask questions about why each kid is there, their stories. The ones that hit me the hardest are the little three year olds who can't walk because they were so malnourished before found, a three year old girl stuck in a bouncy chair her whole life, some kids taken away from abusive alcoholic parents by the police, others abandoned at the hospital, others found in plastic bags next to dumpsters, others voluntarily take themselves there when they are 12 years old and pregnant with their step-fathers baby due to being rapped. These kids like the children at the Special Needs School here need qualified staff members to help them, they need their own beds, they need the sewer pipe fixed, and they need so much support. But, yet are grateful for some kind of roof over their head, happy to be safe and happy to have the opportunity to go to school.

How we buy veggies!

The day Malvern left, Global Health Medical Campaign arrived with a team of 39 people! Our days spent with the campaign were long, emotionally draining, challenging, rewarding, and a completely new adventure. Our days began at 7:15 in the morning and we didn't return home till 8:45 pm each night. But, the long hours weren't what caused us to pass out at 10 pm exhausted every night, but more so the emotional and mentally exhaustion from talking in two languages all day. I worked with a nurse practitioner, Genny, we saw all the kids under the age of 18. This was perfect for the fact that every patient was a new challenge, I didn't hear the same my back hurts, my knees hurt, my blood pressure is really high, or I might have diabetes story over and over again. Each child came in with a different story, and never with just one problem but more so a full list of things they were praying for a miracle for. 

Fresh Fish!

Throughout the two weeks I saw extreme cases of birth defects, mental disabilities, severely malnourished children, epileptic children ceasing while sitting there, parasites, hemophilic boys, big hernias, and irregular heart murmurs. One little boy was born with his brain in islands, four years old and unable to walk or talk, and probably never will be able to. Epileptic children with no way of being able to afford medicine to slow down the frequency of how often they were ceasing. Often causing these kids to then be malnourished because they cannot eat while ceasing because it may cause pneumonia! Kids weighing less than seven pounds at two years old being breastfeed by a mother probably weighing less than 80 pounds herself she is so malcourished as well. Children with asthma due to the fact that the mom cooks over an open fire with no ventalation for the smoke to be removed from the house. Other children came in with severe cleft lips, hoping to be put on the list for the operations in October. Another child was born with his skull already sealed not allowing for any head or brain growth. One little three year old girl looked like she was about 4 months old, she was born with severe schoiosis, a cleft lip, a back dimple signifing that her spine did not fully formulate and hips not in their sockets. Another baby was not born without an espophogus, another without a bladder, both attacted to several tubes in order for these kids to be able to eat or go to the bathroom.

Fruits!

Never have I had to choke back tears so many times in a week, never have I heard such sad stories, never have I had to tell parents that their kids are going to join God and the angels soon, nor have I ever experienced such intense love! Some of these moms came from a six hour bus ride away, not to mention the 2 hours they walked carrying their child to get to the bus, then waited outside in the sun for several hours before getting to actually talk to a doctor, for me just to tell them their child wasn't going to make it. One mom came in with a baby born so with so many things wrong it was amazing the baby was still alive, when I told the mom about all the things wrong with her child, she started crying, she was 17 and this was her 3rd baby born this way, the other two didn't make it more than a week, but yet she wanted to keep trying. Another woman came in with her grandson because the mom was 14 and in school, the grandma traveled all night to get there. Another mom came in with her 12 year old daughter, who had a really irregular dangerous heart murmur. The girl needs an extreme heart surgury that is so far out of the mother's price range she doesn't know what to do. Next thing I know the mom asks the daughter to leave the room and go wait outside for her. The mom then starts to cry and tells me she has stage 4 cancer, but hasn't recieved any treatment for it because she would rather that money go to her daughter. This mom loves her daughter so much she is willing to give her own life to her.

The campaign also gave me time to get to more about people in Chulucanas. Multiple mom's of students or actual students came in to the clinic. I learned my favorite student, Christian, who I spend  lots of time with, dad left him last year, since then his grades have dropped, he doesn't like going out, and he has trouble sleeping. My best student, Juan Jose, his mom experiences extreme PTSD and anxiety because her brother murdered someone and is now in the highest secruity prison in Lima. My cool kid in the class, Mr. I sit in the back, am too cool for anything, am just gonna sleep, actually has an irregular heart problem that keeps him up at night. Found out his parents aren't in his life anymore so he lives with his aunt, he is 17 (so 2 years older than everyone else in the class) and his main caregiver, his grandma, is super sick. Stories like these reminded me how much I can't get frustrated at students for not studying, so many of them have stuff going on at home, they all have a story, even the ones I thought I knew.

Regular sight!

Lastly, the campaign made for some awkward funny times as well! Learning how to ask kids if they were sexually active, how often they go to the bathroom and what color it is, if it hurts when they go to the bathroom, if they have "blancitos en sus potitos," (little white things coming out of their little butts) parasites, and the list continues. Also, Genny, my doctor, was huge like 5'11 and super animiated, and of course didn't speak a word of Spanish. So when she would get up and explain things with actions the people would just stare at her like what is this crazy lady doing. But, then when I would translate it, I too would have to act out the same actions so they understood what which part meant. I've never had to teach so many little girls how to clean themselves after going to the bathroom or how to have uncircumsized little boys clean themselves to avoid infections. Never a dull moment! But, overall a truly amazing experience! Just wish their was so much more we could do for these people! Campaigns like this are awesome but also such a bandaid! These people need extreme education, they need access to clean water, prenatal vitimins, regular doctors, and equipment that supports all the hard manual labor they have to do. 

"Open your heart and accept me as I am!"
Sign on the wall at the Special Needs Home

"Welcome to hippieland"

While explaining the difference of when to use "there is" verse "there are" I was asked the very intelligent question of: "Profe, if one duck means it's singular, and two ducks means it's plural, what is three ducks?" I know we were always taught that there is no such thing as a stupid question, but this was a stupid question. The sad part is I am asked questions like this often, and not because they are unintelligent but because they often don''t have the confidence to believe in themselves. Even the older kids, I have to hold their hands through every little step of the day from what color to write the title of the unit in, to if every single answer is right on their test, they don't trust themselves to do it on their own.

With that being said the end of the first trimester grades were rough to give. Passing in Peru is a 55% or higher, based on a grading scale of 1 to 20. At a 55% you think they would all pass with flying colors yet, still at least 12 kids a class did not pass multiple subjects. Grades are based on a notebook grade, participation, homework, and a final exam. To say I spent more time grading notebooks and tests than all of my students combined spent studying would probably be a fair statement.

Funny mistakes: "He can party rock" "You should do the doctor" "I must not go the house of Britt DeLine" (taught the class to call him a 'Suck Up' after that one)

Luckily, I really really enjoy these kids and have developed pretty solid friendships with several of them. They may not be the best students, but they are great kids. Gone running with a couple of them, gone to the river with others, done service with some of them at the Hogar de Abuelitos (Little Grandparents House, or nursing home) and the Special Needs School. I also started an after school study hall to hopefully help improve their English grades and/or give them something to do after school a couple hours a week. It has also given me a chance to get to know them better with less of them in a class. And on days when I don't have my afternoon class, I am helping with the school volleyball team. So, to say the least, I live at Santisimo Cruz.

Chantal's 23rd birthday party group pic!

But, don't worry I find time for fun and friends as well! We threw Chantelle a birthday party a couple weeks ago, American style, with games, conversation, music, dancing, and 10 different people that hardly knew each other, of all different ages. It was a blast!

I've learned to ride side saddle on a motorcycle. I drove a car around Chulucanas!

We went to our friend Nena's birthday party that was suppose to start at 7:30, so we got there at 8:00, guests continued to arrive at 9:45, so finally ate at 10:45, dancing started at 12:00am, and left at 1:30am on a school night!

Two university students came over and cooked for us all day, tried Pulpa (octopus), pretty darn delicious!

Walking with an Iguana

We have great overprotective guy friends who were scared for us to go to Ecuador alone, they wanted to call friends they have in Ecuador to pick us up from the bus station and take us around. One even stayed on our couch while we were gone to make sure no one broke into our house. Then, they were mad when we didn't call them the second we got home to let them know we were safe.

But, our trip to Ecuador was awesome! After an 11 hour $17 bus ride we arrived Friday morning at 9 am. Found ourselves a $5 a person a night hotel room, and started exploring the beautiful city of Guayaquil. Guayaquil is famous for the Malecón River and it's three mile boardwalk of gardens, ponds, playgrounds, restaurants, shops, bridges, towers, statues and parks. We spent the day eating, exploring, and watching Lacie play in an inflatable ball in a pond with other kids under 15 years old. We got up early Saturday to head to the bus station to find a car that was heading to Montiñita. After nearly causing a fight among taxi drivers we headed out with our chosen driver and two 22 year old Ecuadoran guys. Three hours later we piled out of the 5 seater car the 6 of us uncomfortably road in to hippie land! Montiñita is about 4 blocks by 4 blocks of straight hostels, restaurants, bars, and hippies selling anything they can make right there with their hands. We spent the rest of the weekend at the beach, eating, making new friends, shopping, and dancing on the beach! It was great to get out of Chulucanas, have a break, and get to know a little bit about our neighbors!

poco a poco

School band

I MADE IT! I survived my 2 weeks of solo teaching! Boy do I now have so much more respect for all teachers, as well as a need to sleep for the next week I'm so exhausted! My first week included a lot of yelling, like a lot, a lot of frustration and a fun new adventure! Remember when you were in elementary school and had a substitute teacher for a day? Remember how mean kids were to the poor subs? Imagine that times three, plus there being double the amount of students in one room, it all being in Spanish, and when kids feel like you are ignoring them they just get out of their desks and poke you until you acknowledge them. But, on the other hand it was super fun to actually be able to do what I wanted to do with my classes. I didn't make them copy everything from the really not helpful text book, I didn't care what their notebooks looked like and what they wrote down verse didn't, I worked on reexplaining things to get them to understand better, played vocab and verb practice games, didn't kick kids out of class for not having their books, and tried to make full use of the time we had together.

My second week was way better, I somehow did something right the first week, because they respected me 10 times more. I actually didn't lose my voice from yelling nor did I think a vain was gonna pop out of my head. A few kids even came up to me after classes and told me I was a really good teacher or they liked my class that day! So, that was pretty awesome. But, non the less still exhausting due to late nights preparing for the next day, grading tests and billions of notebooks.

Bonfire in the yard

Other fun things: Learned how to drive a motorcycle! Our friend Javier taught us a couple weeks ago. I was a natural of course, Lacie and Chantelle were a little bit more freaked out by the idea so he sat on the back praying for his life the whole time with them! But, now we're all quite good, especially Chantelle, she's had lots of practice! Also, learned out to ride side sandal on a motorcycle, kind of scary the first 30 seconds.

Santisimo had a march for education. Every class choose different costumes to represent different ages in Peru history. My class were Incas!

May is the month of the Virgin Mary. At school, everyday a different class brings flowers to present to Mary and prays the rosary in honor of her and the holy family. Each neighborhood also has a statue of the Virgin, our neighborhood Mary came to visit us this week. Monday night the community was invited to our house to pray the rosary, a woman and her granddaughter showed up to lead us in prayer.

We've gotten real tight with the priests of San Jose Obrero, the Augustinian parish here. Yesterday we went to lunch with a couple of them, where we drank wheat beer, yes WHEAT, we were excited and ate delicious spicy ceviche (raw fish cooked from the acidity of limes), arroz con mariscos (like spanish paella, seafood and rice), seco de chavelo (fried mashed plantains with dried meat and veggies), and cachema (a type of fish grilled and served with onions and tomatoes) ALL amazing!! Then last night after mass we went out with them to a bar for pisco sours, they paid!

Mother's Day is also a huge deal here in Peru! On Wednesday they had a special mass for all the Mother's of Santisimo. On Friday, they held a specially lunch for the teachers and gave the mothers presents. Also on Friday, there was a huge party in the school. The mothers were greeted by the senior boys in suits with roses ready to escort the mothers into the party. Then each grade level choose students to sing a song, read a poem or do a dance in between raffling off baskets of random foods: pasta, milk, yogurt, crackers, etc. Today, I went to my host families for a special lunch of baby goat and rice.

Todo lo puedo en Cristo que me fortalece (Flp 4:13)

The things that frustrate me! Oh where do I even start? The fact that I have yet to cry from students not listening to me causing me to lose my voice from yelling all time? The lack of respect people give one another, the lack of their ability to communicate, or the lack of efficiency in the school system??

Respect: A word I hear probably about ten times a day. Yet, the teachers don't show the students respect! Students are yelled at all day everyday. There is no sense of disciplinary system in place besides yelling at them. Students are expected to respect the teachers time but yet the teachers are always late, leave the class to talk on the phone, and lesson plan in the middle of class. Students are all expected to respect each other, yet students are afraid to talk in class because they are afraid of being made fun of or they are afraid of just being talked over by the annoying boy that sits in the front. Students are suppose to respect eachother's property as well as the school property, then they throw eachother's stuff on the ground where they also throw their trash. Not to mention, when we have teacher/parent meetings to talk about respect, and the moms just talk over one another the entire time.

Lack of communication: Communication in my mind is a very important part of life, it's what enables any of us to get anything done! Peruvians would disagree. Chantelle works at Central Pastoral, The Center of the Diocese for all of the Chulucanas area, in the health office under two sisters. It is a rarity that Chantelle doesn't come home completely frustrated solely due to the fact that they don't communicate something with her then yell at her when it hasn't been done. Two weeks ago, Lacie and I ended up spending all of our free time helping Chantelle get a project done that her bosses just didn't tell her to do, until it was past due. In school I'm often not given directions then have to regrade papers, rewrite the tests, or reexplain a chapter because I wasn't told how to do it in the first place. One of these days I guess I'll just learn to start reading their minds to know when we are going to have a meeting after school, what days we get out early, and when people are expecting me to do something.

Walking bridge over the river in Piura

The inefficiency in the school system: This week, we gave our first set of midterms out to two of our classes. Of the 72 students that took the test, 15 of them got a C or D, 9 got above a 50%, and everyone else was lucky to get 20% right. Why is this? Yes, the students don't study, EVER. But, we also have such a limited amount of time with the students each week (1.5 hours, not including wasted time. I take away kids homework on a daily basis for coping someone else's homework right there in the front row in front of me. They don't have computers, projectors, or any sort of media to assist in teaching, kids are constantly talking and therefore constantly getting yelled at. To add to it, they take their tests outside to try to spread the kids out to avoid cheating. But, taking them out of their normal learning environment makes for a lot of distractions especially when other teachers are interrupting them, Yenny is talking on the phone, and kids are throwing white out around like dodge-balls because they are more concerned with not scratching stuff out than their answers. Also, there is no sort of reward system. Their reward is often not being embarrassed in front of the rest of their peers. After the test, Yenny went through and called out every student that got a 20% for the rest of the students to 'ohh' at!

EARTHQUAKE DRILL!

Kids playing injured during the earthquake drill...other students play doctor. Normal? Always prepared for the worst?

All things considering, we didn't come here to have an easy year, to recreate the United States, or let our frustrating take away from the experience. Especially when we don't know what's going on in these kids homes, we don't know how many parents are around, if they have food on the table, if their parents encourage them to do well in school, or if they have to work every afternoon to help provide for their families. Doesn't make it any less challenging and make me question if what I'm doing has any purpose but, if I can impact even a handful of them, this year will be worth it! 

Anyway, other events of the last two weeks: we had an infestation of flees so got the house fumigated, the termites in my room are here to stay though. Lacie spent a day in the hospital due to an extreme stomach infection. The dog the bit me, he lives, I don't have rabies. Our director, Pat, came to visit, brought Christmas with him (goldfish, granola, cereal, cliff bars, chocolate, etc). Done some awesome Piura exploring, including walked into the perfect mass at a beautiful Church. And just busy living, cooking, cleaning, hand washing clothes, spending time with friends, and running on Saturday mornings with students.

Viviendo en el presente

Just doesn't do it justice

So, not sure if you heard, but I moved here, I moved to Peru. I'm not here for a week service trip to get this awesome spiritual, do good, save the world high...I'm here to live with the people of Chulucanas. I'm here to experience how the third world lives, here to live their everyday struggles, face my own struggles, and learn more everyday. Because of this, I have good days and I have bad days. I have strong feelings of frustrating and belly aching fits of laughter. We have concern for our safety and amazing friends that are protective, welcoming and generous. The school system drives me nuts, in the fact that my students will have learned hardly anything by the time this year is over, but my students constantly make me smile.

Everyday is a new adventure full of awkward, funny, and sometimes surprisingly deep conversations. Every chance I get to look out at the landscape is a blessing. Never have a seen such open lushious green land leading up to beautiful big pointy blue mountains that look so close you can touch them. Never have I been stopped in the street by a stranger wanting to thank me for being there. Nor have I met someone that 10 minutes later is inviting me over to their house to feed me, or wanting to take me to see their favorite place in the Chulucanas area. Chulucanians are so proud of their city, their culture, and of course their food, so much so they can't wait to share anything they have with us. But, yet never have I felt so much like I am constantly in need of a shower, my stomach is constantly in a state of discomfort, bugs are constantly crawling on me not to mention biting me, and I'm still constantly sweating. I joke by the time I get back literally nothing will phase me, I'll think all things are just well, normal! Last night, for example, we were coming back from a city 20 minutes away on moto with two new friends when we broke down. It was so dark you could literally see nothing but billions of stars, with not a person in sight, we didn't feel scared but yet, just kind of, un phased, naturally this would happen, we're in Peru.

The mural is made of dyed wood chips made only for the evening procession

Anyway, Holy Week was spent much differently this year. We didn't have work or school Thursday or Friday because they are days meant to be spent with family, at church, in community, and/or traveling. Never have I gone to more hours of church in 5 days, especially where I only understand about 50% of what is being said. The most significant mass was Friday morning's Stations of the Cross. Beginning at 5 am, was a three hour procession through the streets while fifty 15 to 17 year old parish kids acted out the stations. By the end of the procession probably close to 5,000 people were walking with us as they physically wipped the boy playing Jesus and hung him on a cross bleeding for all the crowd to see.

Fabiana and I riding on the back of the moto

Catacoas llama, carnival and beautiful cathedral.

After the procession our friend Italo accompained us to a small city, Catacoas, for their Semana Santa activities. It was pretty much a giant street carvinal with millions of people and tons of good food!

Trip to the water falls with new friends

Prefe Briana!

Top of Chulucanas! I'm a giant!

 Wow! Where do I begin with my last couple of weeks...?? Guess life finally got busy, maybe even too busy!! I'm finally in a full on day to day routine, causing time to just fly bye! My weekly schedule looks about like this:

Back half of our house, my room is on the left!

Monday: Wake up at 5:30 to work out and have 2 hours to myself before I have to be at school at 7:30. I have three 1.5 hour classes (2C, 2A, 4B) with an hour and half break between my 2nd and 3rd period classes. Most of my teaching time is spent pronouncing words over and over again, stating significance, writing examples on the board and attempting to make students actually listen to me. I get home to Lacie and Chantelle where we make lunch together. Most of which consists of a lot of vegetables, chicken, and rice all mixed up in a pan with really good unknown spices. Siesta time is often spent with random visitors (mainly friends, yes we have friends, TONS actually, most of which guys and non of which call ahead of time nor understand what overstaying their welcome means) or university students needing things translated for them including their physics or statistics books (why the teacher just doesn't use a book in SPANISH is beyond us!).

Looking out towards the street of our house!

Tuesday: 5:30 wake up, 2B class, then off to the University for my 45 minute English class to a group of Argrodustrial students. My university classes are spent speaking more English, but also spent repeating myself over and over again, working on pronunciation, and doing listening activities. Then I am off to the Seminarian to teach 10 Seminaristas an hour and a half of the most basic English you can imagine. I walked in the first class and asked how much English they knew, got a blank stare so asked in Spanish and was given the answer of "Hello," that was all they knew. So we started with the ABC's! The sad part is all of them took 5 years of English in Secondario school, similar to what I do everyday. The problem is with their school system, after all is said and done they get about 45 minutes of English class a week (after teachers are 15 minutes late, take 10 minutes to plan what they are going to teach that day, 15 minutes to lecture about who knows what, and the last 5 minutes to chill), often times by a teacher that himself doesn't speak English, no wonder they learn nothing! Tuesday afternoon is spent similar to Monday with dinner at the Bishops house!

View from the Obispado of the street, plaza, and Cathedral

Wednesday: Can't get up at 5:30, too tired, get up at 6:30. Have my 5A, 3A, 5B classes, back to back, home by 1:00. Normally go out to lunch Wednesdays, for 5 soles ($2) a person, why not occasionally splurge! Have I told you how amazing food is in this country?? Wednesday night, often times we find someone that wants to feed us, yes people here love to cook for us, it's amazing! Then before bed we have our weekly community meeting and prayer.

Thursday: 5:30 wake up, breakfast normally consists of a banana with peanut butter (we have a PB obsession here), yogurt that you drink, the 18 sole ($7) box of cereal we bought in Piura with milk you buy warm, or a hard boiled egg. Head to school for my 4A, 4B tutoria class, then 1B, done by 11:50 :). Thursday's we go to Chantelle's host families restaurant for free lunch, so good! Then I have 4 classes that afternoon in the University!

Sunset over Chulu!

Friday: Attempt to wake up at 5:30, my walk to school takes me about 12 minutes, consists of saying "buenos dias" to every person I pass and every moto driver asking if I would like a ride. I have my 4B PFRH (persona, familia, relationes humanas) class, 3B, free block, 1A. The afternoon is spent like Monday and Tuesday.

Weekends here for most don't begin till Saturday night, so that is the night to go out, and we've sure done a good job and making sure that happens every week. But, Friday we often spend drinking on streets with friends, having friends over, going to watch Peru play Chile in the most popular club in Chulucanas with the owner, who we've made friends with. or staying in to watch a movie with a bottle of wine! Saturday day lately has been spent exploring Puira (where there is a Starbucks, Chile's and Pizza Hut), other small pueblos, the country side, the rivers, or cooking with friends. Sunday is spent recovering from not getting home till 6 am, church, and drinking more. But, unlike most Peruvians we do have to work on Monday's and don't believe in just not going due to drinking too much all day Sunday.

Drinking green mango juice for St Patty's Day!

Other fun facts of the past couple of weeks...I got bit by a dog, we lost electricity for a few days so had to cook with headlamps, we still lose running water often, our roof leaks waterfalls, we have a river in our street 4 feet deep when it rains that we have to swim through to get to our house, I have an infected bug bite on my arm that required a trip to the hospital, our internet goes out, the list continues but so does life here! It's all just part of the adventure, right?

El Fin de Verano!

After 9 months of permanent "Summer Vacation" I have finally officially began my first real life job!  My day begins at 7:30 AM with an all school assumbly of presenting the Peruvian flag (duck walk style), the Peruvian national anthum, Santisimo Cruz Colegio anthum, and of course prayer! Following the 20 to 30 minute assumbly students and professors are dismissed to our aulas!

My first week as an official teacher was spent often confused due to the lack of information given to me, the constant schedule changes due to early dismissal at the end of the day due to the first day of school, la dia de la mujer, and the heat of the afternoon, and lack of lesson planning! Not to mention the amount of time I'm left alone in my class with not a clue what to do next, but I guess they trust me?

Teachers are often late to class, or they leave the room to talk to another professor, or they just want to go talk on the phone outside the room. All of which is very normal! However, they are very strict with the kids, the students all stand when you enter the room, ask permission for everything, are not allowed to be late, talk when others are talking, and are yelled at often for bad work or lack of studying.

My favorite part is when we have breaks in the day and I can just sit and talk with the students! They love asking me hundreds of questions! They ask me what my state is like, if I have siblings, if I have a boyfriend and how much I miss him, how long is of a journey was it to get to Peru, what the food is like in the US, etc! Highlight of my Friday was in my last class, a boy at the end of our convo told me I was cool and gave me a kiss on the check! Then all the other students wanted a kiss goodbye too!